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Where are people reporting the most, and the worst, potholes in Buffalo?

311 data reveals three streets have the most calls
Posted at 7:22 PM, Feb 21, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-21 19:22:49-05

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — After city officials announced at the State of the City there's more money headed to pothole repairs, 7 Eyewitness News dug through 311 Service Call data to find out where the worst, and the most, potholes are reported.

The data showed the most service calls for potholes in January were on Hertel Avenue, East Ferry, and Main Street. Google Maps estimated Hertel Avenue and E Ferry Street are about four miles long. Main Street from Goodell to Bailey is about six miles long.

"They're everywhere and they don't fix them at all. I'm not shocked... They're absolutely terrible," said Joann Lantheir, who lives in Buffalo, "I'm in a North Buffalo group on Facebook, people are complaining. They're calling 311 and nothings been done."

Keegan Miller, who also lives in Buffalo, says he knows someone whose bumper fell off after hitting a huge pothole.

"It was like $2,000 worth of damage. It was a lot because there were sensors in his bumper and what not, so you have to be careful," said Miller.

Miller is a bike mechanic at Rick Cycle Shop. He says potholes are just as dangerous for cyclists.

"You can have a broken bike. You can go over the handlebars if you see it and hit it by accident," Miller said.

That's why it's crucial the potholes are fixed. Brendan Mehaffy, the executive director of Buffalo's Office of Strategic Planning, said there could be more money for repairs. He said it's because of the newly announced Accelerator Buffalo Fund, which is designated for the city's infrastructure.

"This fund that has been created will free up funds from the city budget to address those issues as well. Fundamentally, at the end of the day, obviously the Mayor and everybody knows that we need out potholes filled," said Mehaffy.

The city announced in May 2019 they were looking to hire a pothole czar. The position pays $54,000 a year to monitor potholes. 7 Eyewitness News has not received any word on if that position has been filled.

The city said crews took advantage of the good weather on President's Day filling numerous potholes across the city. He also said Mayor Byron Brown has a 48 hour rule that a pothole is fixed within two days of the initial 311 call.